Tau-connecter



June 9, 1931. GOELLER 1,809,408

T-CONNECTER Filed June 29. 1927 Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE This invention relates to connecters and particularly to T-connecters for conductors and the like meeting at an angle.

The object of the invention is to provide a connecter which is simple in form and having great strength and a securely permanent g A further object of the inventlon is to provi e gripping parts formed to give a thorough electrical contact of very low resistance.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of connector.

Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sections of the same, and

.Fi 4 is a perspective view of the saddle or yo e member of the connector.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings a conductor 5 is connected to a conductor 6 approaching the conductor 5 at substantially right angles or in T-form. The connector of my invention comprises in general a grip 7 for the conductor 5 and a grip 8 for the conductor 6. The grip 8 may be of any desired type and the specific details thereof do not form any part of my resent invention which involves the general orm of the T-connecter and the articular formation of the grip 7. This grip for the conductor 5 is formed by the block 9 of the connecter body having the jaw or gripping roove 10 and the saddle or yoke member 11 having the cooperating gripping surface 12, each of these gripping surfaces 1-0 and 12 being of generally seml-cylindrical form and preferably toothed or serrated as shown in Fig. 4 so as to give a secure hold on the conductor together with intimate contact of low electrical resistance.

The yoke or strap member 11 has extended sides 13 fitting the flat side surfaces 14 of the block 9 and bolting means is provided pressing these sides against the surfaces 14 and at the same time longitudinally of the block 9 so as to draw the gripping jaw 12 toward the cooperating jaw 10. This bolting means in the specific example shown comprises a bolt 15 extending through the sides 13 through a hole 16 in the block 9. Each end of the bolt carries a conically shaped wedge member 17 cooperating with a similarly shaped conical recess 18 m the cones onding side member 13 of the yoke and on tightening the nut 19 of the bolt these wedge members 17 are drawn inward with equal and o posite pressures. The lower surfaces 20 (i lgs. 2 and 3) of the wedges 17 engage against the adjacent surfaces of the recess 18 so as to draw the yoke member downward and draw the gripping surfaces 10, 12 together on to the conductor 5. At the same time the inward component of the pressure between the wedges and the recess 18 holds the side straps 13 tightly against the side surfaces 14 of the block 9.

In using the connecter the yoke member 11 is removed from the block 9 and these two parts are then assembled together on the conductor 5 with the jaws in contact therewith as indicated in Fig. 3, the bolt 15 havmg a wedge member 17 at its head end and being passed through the recess 16 and provided with the other wedge member 17 and nut 19 on its threaded end. Preferably the wedge members 17 are in annular form separately rotatable on the bolt so that the bolt head or nut may be turned withoutturningthe corresponding wed e member as the nut is tightened to draw t ese wedges together. It is obvious however, that the wedge members may be of any desired form and may be made integral with the bolt head or nut. As the wedges are drawn together they will tend to equalize in their action on each side so as to draw downward and inward equally on each of the side straps 13 forcing the gripping jaws 10, 12 into tight engagement with the conductor and at the same time holding the side members 13 snugly against the sides of the block 9. Very great grip in forces are developed and with the parts iii fii lly gripped position as shown in Fig. 2 all of the elements are compactly locked together with the gripping jaws 10, 12 biting into the material of the conductor over the extended area of both the gripping jaws. A secure mechanical grip is thus attained and also an electrical contact of very low resistance. Current is carried directly between the block 'aw 10 1 and the conductor and also between t e com on ductor and the yoke jaw 12 and through the oke and its si e surface contacts with the block 9 and also through the wedge members 17 and bolt 15. The current density in the connecter parts is therefore very low.

The balanced pull on both sides of the yoke member attained by the opposing wedge rings places this member under substantial- 1y equal tension on both sides so that very strong pressures may be exerted between the jaws without excessive intensity of stresses at any point or any tendency to yield in service and loosen the grip on the conductor. At the same time the connecter is simple in form and of standard parts easily machined so as to be cheaply produced in quantity. The material will be preferably bronze for the block and the yoke while the bolt may be of monel metal and the wedge rings of steel, though, of course, any other suitable materials may be used.

I claim:

1. In a connecter the combination with a block member having an end gripping surface for engaging one side of a conductor, of a cooperating relatively movable yoke member having a gripping surface for contacting with the opposite side of said conductor and side extensions having surfaces facing each other adjacent oppositely facing sides of said block member, and fastening means extending in a line passing transversely through said block member and side extensions and supported by said block member, said fastening means cooperating with at least one of said side extensions and said block member to relatively move said yoke and block members and grip said conductor between them and to simultaneously force the side extensions against the adjacent sides of the block member.

2. In a connecter the combination with a block member having an end grip ing surface for engaging one side of a con uctor, of a cooperating relatively movable yoke member having a gripping surface for contacting with the opposite side of said conductor and side extensions having surfaces facing each other adjacent oppositely facing sides of said block member, and fastening means extending in a line passing transversely through said block member and side extensions and supported by said block member, said fastening means cooperating with at least one of said side extensions and said block member to relatively move said yoke and block members and rip said conductor between them and to simu taneously force the side extensions against the adjacent sides of the block member; said fastening means comprising a transverse screw and wedge means placing said side extensions under equalized tension.

3. A connecter comprisin the combination with ablock member having on end gripping surface for enga ng one side of a conductor, of a cooperating relatively movable yoke member having a gripping surface for contacting with the opposite side of said conductor and side extensions having surfaces facing each other adjacent oppositely facing sides of said block member, and fastening means extendin in a line passing transversely through sai block member and side extensions and supported by said block member said fastening means cooperating with sai side extensions and said block member to relatively move said yoke and block members and grip said conductor between them, said fastening means comprising conical recesses in said side extensions, conical wedges en aging in said recesses and screw means for ore, ing said wedges toward each other to place said side extensions under tension and simultaneously press them against said block.

4. In a connecter the combination with a block member having an end gripping surface for engaging one side of a conductor, of a cooperating relatively movable yoke member having a gripping surface for contacting with the opposite side of said conductor and side extensions having surfaces facing each other adjacent oppositely facing sides of said block member, and fastening means extending in a line passing transversely through said block member and side extensions and supported by said block memher, said fastening means cooperating with said side extensions and said block member to relatively move said yoke and block members and grip said con uctor between them, said fastening means comprising a bolt extendin transversely through and supported on sai block mem er and wedge means on the ends of the bolt adapted to place said side extensions under tension and simultaneously press them against said block member.

5. In a connecter, a block member having a face for engaging one side of a conductor, a U-sha ed yoke member the inner portion of whic is adapted to clamp against the opposite side of the conductor with the two opposite arms of the yoke member straddling and lying adjacent to the oppositely facing sides of the block member, said block memher and opposite arms having aligned a e tures for t e reception of a clamping bolt extending therethrough in a direction substantially at right angles to the axis of the conductor, conical wedges positioned in said apertures, and a bolt for pressing said wedges inwardly to exert equal stresses on said arms and ress them against the sides of the block mem r, simultaneously drawing the block member and the yoke member against the conductor.

6. A connecter for conductors comprising two parts one having side arms embracing the other and also having a portion connecting the side arms and its inner face shaped for engaging a conductor in opposition to the engaging face of the other part, in combination with means having pairs of cooperating adjustable devices engaging respeo- 5 tively with the side arms and exerting ual tensions thereon, said pairs of devices as t ey are adjusted bein simultaneously interlocked against acci ental displacement.

7. In a conneoter, the combination with a 10 block member having an end gripping surface for engaging one side of a conductor, of a co-operating member with a gripping Surface for contacting with the opposite side of said conductor and also having side ex- 15 tensions adjacent said block member, and

fastening means carried b said block memher and eo-operating wit said side extensions and said block member to eifectrelative movements by exerting an equalized 2o stress on said side extensions.

ROBERT A. GOELLER.

for engaging a. conductor in opposition to the engagin face of the other part, in combination wit means having pairs of cooperating adjustable devices engaging respectively with the side arms and exerting e ual tensions thereon, said pairs of devices as t ey are adjusted bein simultaneously interlocked against acci ental displacement.

7. In a connecter, the combination with a block member having an end gripping surface for engaging one side of a conductor, of a co-operating member with a gripping surface for contacting with the opposite side of said conductor and also having side extensions adjacent said block member, and

fastening means carried b said block member and co-operating wit said side extensions and said block member to effect relative movements by exerting an equalized 2o stress on said side extensions.

ROBERT A. GOELLER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,809,408. Granted June 9, 1931, to

ROBERT A. GOELLER.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, lines 54 and 55 claim 2, strike out "at least one of"; same page, line 65, claim 3, for "on" read an; lines 75 and 76, claim 3, and lines 96 and 97, claim 4, strike out the words "supported by said block member, said fastening means"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of September, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,809,408. Granted June 9, 193], to

ROBERT A. GOELLER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, lines 54 and 55, claim 2, strike out "at least one of"; same page, line 65, claim 3, for "on" read an; lines 75 and 76, claim 3, and lines 96 and 97, claim 4, strike out the words "supported by said block member, said fastening means"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of September, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

